While getting a tattoo is a positive and memorable event, for some, the memory can be rather negative and unpleasant. The truth is, there are quite a few things to consider be jumping the gun and getting one.
You need to know the risks involved with getting inked before booking an appointment with your tattoo artist.
The content of this document is not meant to scare you from getting your first tattoo. If the issues herein are fine for you, proceed and get your desired tattoo.
However, there may be other better ways to satisfy your needs without compromising the safety of your health. With that said, let’s go over a few things to consider when it comes to why you shouldn’t get a tattoo.
Disadvantages of Tattoos
Since tattoos breach your skin, they expose you to various complications, including skin infections. The various reasons why you shouldn’t get a tattoo include:
1. Allergies
Do you have a sensitive skin? If so, then tattoos are not meant for you and you should not even imagine getting one. However, you may not realize you’re your skin is allergic to tattoos until you get one. Tattoos cause rashes on your sensitive skin once the ink enters your body.
If you notice any signs of allergy after getting a tattoo, you should ponder getting the mark off your skin to prevent further reactions.
One way to remove the tattoo from your skin is to use tattoo removal creams. Remember, removing the tattoo may not be an event, it is a gradual process. Because of this, the rashes may not disappear as soon as you begin using the cream. Hence, you will need to be patient.
Common signs of allergic reactions resulting from tattoos include:
- Skin redness
- Inflammation
- Skin bumps
- Your skin appears scaly
- Flaking
- Purple or red nodules that appear around the tattoo
Allergies tend to be a concern even for people without sensitive skins. As a result, the best way to prevent allergies is to avoid doing things that increase your vulnerability to allergic reactions.
Even if your tattoo has had no effect on the skin, you have no surety that your next tattoo will be harmless to your skin. Therefore, staying away from those permanent tattoos can be the smartest way of ensuring that your skin remains safe.
2. Inability to Donate Blood
Is saving life your cup of tea? Contrary to what most people think, it is the responsibility of every person to donate blood and save life. However, tattoos deprive you the ability to donate blood for up to one year following its acquisition.
Remember, there are many patients out there in need of your blood. Some of these patients end up losing their life if they fail to get blood supply. Although a tattoo can be beneficial to you for other reasons, its importance cannot equal life. Hence, you need to carefully think about the decisions you make about tattoos.
3. Skin Infections
This is, perhaps, the most irritating drawback of having a permanent tattoo. Remember, tattoo printing involves the insertion of pigments into your skin through pricks. These pricks are made using needles, which penetrate your skin to deposit the pigments. If the needles are contaminated, they transfer the infection into your skin.
One example of possible infections related to tattoos is hepatitis. Contaminated tattoo equipment can also result in other blood-born diseases, including tetanus.
Tattoo infections can be a concern, no matter how good your designer is. If not addressed in time, they can be life-threatening. If you must have a tattoo, then you need to take precautions to avoid infections resulting from tattoos. You need to consider the safety of the tattoo studio where the tattooing takes place. The machines used should be properly sterilized to ensure they are infection-free.
Additionally, ensure that your tattoo artist observes hand hygiene during the procedure. The artist should wear protective gloves throughout the procedure.
If you are planning to have a tattoo, take your time to look for a reputable tattooing studio with well-trained tattoo artists. Remember, each state may have its own regulations and licensing requirements. You must seek to know the regulations and standards in your state beforehand. You can obtain this information from the health department of your state, city or county.
4. Aftercare Difficulty
To ensure desired result of your tattoo, you need to take care of it. To do so, you will have to strictly follow the instructions of your tattoo artist. Failure to follow them may lead to undesired results, which may force you to get rid of the tattoo. Remember, ridding your skin of a permanent tattoo may not be a walk in the park.
Good tattoo aftercare can involve:
- Monitoring the progress of your tattoo every time to ensure it is not causing any side effects
- Spending time searching for the right products to care for the tattoo (we recommend Hustle Butter Deluxe)
- Keeping the tattoo away from sun exposure up to several weeks following the procedure
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing after tattooing to prevent sticking
- Avoiding swimming until after your tattoo has fully healed
- Keeping the tattoo area clean by washing it with water and plain soap
- Avoiding strenuous activities including weight lifting before your tattoo fully heals
Taking care of your tattoo as per the instructions of the artist may be difficult. As a human being, you are prone to forgetting or even ignoring some simple rules.
This ignorance always comes back to haunt you later in life. If you notice any signs of tattoo infection, seek medical attention immediately to prevent any possible harm to your health.
